Meeting at Librairie Blaizot — If the North Wind Opened the Door by Ernest Pignon-Ernest and Alain Freixe

There are places that, in themselves, embody an entire chapter of the history of books. Librairie Blaizot is one of them — a true temple of both ancient and contemporary bibliophilia. Through the richness of its collection, the excellence of its expertise, and the heritage beauty of its space, it is recognized by the most discerning collectors, institutions, and rare book specialists. It was within this exceptional setting that, on October 16, 2025, a warm and inspiring gathering took place around the artist’s book If the North Wind Opened the Door, bringing together its key contributors.

Ernest Pignon-Ernest, Alain Freixe, Françoise Maréchal-Alligand, Bernard Alligand, Agnès Butor, Claude Blaizot

The scenography, designed by Claude Blaizot and his team, was itself an artwork — subtle, evocative, and deeply felt. It enhanced the original drawings and the book itself, arranged like fragments of emotion suspended in light.

Meeting at Librairie Blaizot — If the North Wind Opened the Door by Ernest Pignon-Ernest and Alain Freixe

This book, born of the collaboration between poet Alain Freixe and artist Ernest Pignon-Ernest, unfolds poetry as a restrained cry in the face of tragedy — that of Samia Yusuf Omar, the young Somali athlete who perished at sea while attempting to reach Europe. Freixe’s text, imbued with solemnity, speaks of the dignity of dreams and the brutality of reality, while Pignon-Ernest’s drawings, rendered in blue pastel and printed on Awagami Japanese paper, embody the sensitive memory of absent bodies, erased lives, and hopes forever suspended.

Alongside the two artists, painter and master of materials Bernard Alligand contributed his own art — recreating the tactile presence of the walls upon which Pignon-Ernest usually installs his figures, by embedding the artist’s drawings onto sand. The Jean-Yves Noblet Studio, renowned for the perfection of its pigment prints, succeeded in capturing the full vibration and vitality of Pignon-Ernest’s line.

The evening unfolded in a spirit of passion and shared appreciation — animated by lively exchanges among lovers of fine books and marked by a moving reading by Alain Freixe. It concluded in an atmosphere of listening and gratitude.

The event was crowned with success: every copy of Chapelle found a collector, and the deluxe editions are now almost impossible to find — proof, if any were needed, that when poetry and art unite, they still have the power to touch us deeply.

A heartfelt thanks to Librairie Blaizot, Claude Blaizot, and his entire team for their attentive welcome and remarkable sense of presentation. They offered this artist’s book a setting worthy of its spirit — a place of memory, beauty, and sharing.

Keywords: artist’s book, literature, bibliophile, authors, contemporary artist, bibliophilia, fine press editions, Librairie Blaizot, exhibitions, artist’s books, rare bookstores